News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-09-22
'It's fire." said Chambers's COM

otis a fire." said Chambers's COM
ga bad time for fire in the woods. y
avowed Chambers. IAN Indian or a
fool set it,
''It's worse'n fire in the woods" re-
turned the man, as he glanced anxiously
at the crimsoning sky.
"Worse?"
''Ayei the mill is on fire."
"The millr'
Stunned at the thought, Dan Cham
bers reeled in his tracks, dumb with an
awful horror for the moment. Swift
came the memory of the man locked in
the saw-room, and with a hoarse CRY
| Chambers broke into run.
The mill was indeed in flames.
Even as Dan Chambers burst into the
clearing the first cry of fire rang out on
| the evening air. He was one of the first
ON the ground. Too late! The splendid
factory was doomed. White faces, out
lined against black background, by the
magnificent blaze, were seen here and
there. Perhaps Lubber Dick had es-
capped somehow. This was the thought
that came to the brain of Chambers.
Vain hope!
With a club the imprisoned man
dashed out the sash, then a great cry
went up from the throat of the Mortified
Dan Chambers. Did his eyes deceive
him? Beside the solemn face of Lubber
Dick was another-the face of a blue
eyed boy. There could be no mistaking
that face-his mothers face-and Dan
Chambers groaned:and covered his face
to shut out the sight.
"This wayn
A voice, hoarse with intense feeling,
rose above the fury of the roaring flames
and reached the ears of Chambers.
1--WE were locked in by mistake. Get
that long board and push it,over. Be
be quick or your boy will perish!"
On this side the flames had not come,
but the main portion of the mill was
burning-there was no escaping by the
door now, for a fiery key held the place
against life and hope
Willing hands moved quickly.
A single board lay on the track near
the edge of the bank next the mill. This
was lifted, and in spite of that awful
heat, one end was showed to the open
window. Then Lubber Dick drew his
stout form through the window, and
stood on iutting timber below. Good
heavens the board will never sustain
his weight. The coward" But the
sombre man was even now misunder-
stood.
With scorched face and blistered hands
he drew the boy through the window,
and placed him on the board.
''Steady now, stea Typ
ClipninCr with opn hop6 ap6 1oanipn
far out, Lubber Dick placed his broad
shoulder under the board, holding it
solid. A wild shout went up as the boy
tottered across the abyss, and sank,
scorched and fainting, in his fathers
arms. When they looked again, Lubber
Dick had disappeared. His strength
had forsaken him-he had gone into the
abyss on the logs and stones below! A
shattered human form lay at the feet of
Dan Chambers. A low gasping an
nounced the passing of a human soul.
Human? All! he was scarcely consid-
cred so short time since. But now Dan
iel Chambers knelt and parted the hair
from the blistered brow, while to his ear
came words of strange import.
Il I-forgive you, Daniel. I was
always the black sheep, the fool of the
family. Only a lubber she said, and
laughed in my face. You won her. She
died and left that boy. Do you know
he and l were the best of friends? l
could talk with him for hours-he under
stood. He was lying asleep under the
bench when the fire came. Some one
locked us in, but-but it doesn't matter
now. IL"
Gasping, the faint life went out, and
Dan Chambers came to his feet and
clasped to his heart the boy for whom
Lubber Dick had laid down his life.
"Papa, it was Uncle Dick
"Yes, and l never recognized him until
this moment"
Dan Chambers turned away, leading
his boy by the hand. saw it all, and
heard broken-hearted mans confession
afterward. Dan Chambers still lives, but
he is changed, and better man.
Chicago Current.